WHAT’S UP DOC? Human trafficking

Tuesday

Q: In your sexual abuse column you did not mention human trafficking, and that was a huge omission. Please address this issue.

A: I actually had this included in the first version of that column but deleted it due to space limitations. Thanks for the reminder, as this incredibly important issue deserves a column.

The 2000 United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime defined human trafficking as “the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, or fraud, or deception, or the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude, or the removal of organs." Note that movement of the victim from one place to another is not a required component of this definition.

As abhorrent as this is to think about, human trafficking is very common. It is the third largest criminal activity in the world. The United Nations estimates that in 2016 there were 40 million people worldwide that were victims of this modern form of slavery, including one in five endangered runaway children and over 15 million girls forced into marriage. In addition, over 150 million children worldwide are used as forced labor.

The 13th amendment states “neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime whereof the party shall be duly convicted, shall exist within the United States.” Unfortunately, there is still slavery in the U.S. in the form of human trafficking which has been documented in all 50 states and in the District of Columbia. This includes sex trafficking of adults and children, as well as forced labor and domestic servitude.

There have been over 30,000 cases of human trafficking reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline (see below for hotline contact info) over the last 8 years, including over 8000 cases in 2016. Unfortunately, the number of reported cases is thought to grossly underestimate the actual size of this issue. In addition, the U.S. Department of Labor has identified almost 150 different goods from over 70 countries that are made by forced and/or child labor and that have been sold in the U.S.

In the U.S. most victims of human trafficking are U.S. citizens, but non-citizens, especially those illegally in the country who have fled dangerous and even life-threatening circumstances in their home country, are at a very high risk. This is because human traffickers use ‘turning them in’ to immigration officials as part of their manipulation strategy, and the recent increase in deportations has added fuel to this threat.

There are significant physical and psychological ramifications for people who have been victims of human trafficking. This includes physical issues from trauma, sexual abuse and other physical abuse, as well as other medical issues from the harsh conditions they are subjected to (for example malnutrition, toxic exposures, etc.). In addition, the psychological complications due to the abuse they have had to endure are significant, including post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse (not uncommonly forced on the victim as yet another way to control them), depression and many others.

The 2000 Trafficking Victims Protection Act gave law enforcement the ability to protect victims through forms of immigration relief. It would be inhumane and unconscionable to back away from this. When victims are afraid of law enforcement, whether from fear of being deported or from fear of being found criminally guilty of prostitution or other crimes they were forced to commit, the human traffickers are empowered.

If you have any suspicion of human trafficking activity please contact law enforcement and the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888 or help@humantraffickinghotline.org. More information is available at traffickingresourcecenter.org.